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How to Create a Three-Dimensional Representation of the Solar System

The solar system is our home in the Milky Way galaxy, where the eight planets we know best orbit around our sun. Creating a three-dimensional model of the solar system provides a hands-on way of learning more about our home planet and the galactic neighbors that surround it. A solar system mobile acts as a three-dimensional diorama of the sun and its surrounding eight planets. Remember, Pluto is no longer considered a planet so don't include it.

Things You'll Need

White construction paper
Cardboard circle roughly 1 foot across
Crayons, markers or colored pencils
String
Clear household tape
Scissors
Drafting compass
Ruler

Instructions

- 1
  Mark the center of your cardboard circle; this is where the sun will go. Use the compass to draw four circles fairly close around this point, representing the orbits of the first four planets. Leave 2 inches of free space and create four more circles on the outside of the free space. While Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars are relatively close to the sun, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune are farther out.
- 2
  Poke one hole in each of the eight orbit paths at various points using the sharp end of your scissors. Poke them at different points to represent the different orbit cycle of each planet. Poke a hole in the middle for the sun.
- 3
  Draw and color the sun and each of the eight planets on construction paper. The sun should be the largest. The planets, from largest to smallest, are Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Earth, Venus, Mars and Mercury. Use a picture of each planet as a reference for color and size. While exact scaling is hard due to vast size differences, make Jupiter about 3 inches in diameter and make the sun about twice the size of Jupiter.
- 4
  Cut out each planet and the sun. Cut nine pieces of string -- one to hang each planet and one for the sun. The strings should be between 10 inches and one foot with just enough variety to hang the planets and sun at slightly different heights.
- 5
  Pull one piece of string through the top of the mobile's middle hole and tape an inch of string to the top side of the cardboard. Repeat this for the other eight holes, running the string through each hole and taping it to the top of the mobile.
- 6
  Tape the center piece of string to the sun where the string hangs from the mobile. With clear tape, it doesn't matter which side of the planet you tape the sun to. Tape Mercury to the next one, then tape Venus, Earth and Mars, in that order. Tape Jupiter to the first string after the gap, then tape Saturn, Uranus and Neptune.
- 7
  Cut three pieces of string about half the length of your cardboard. Tape one end of each string to the top of the cardboard, spacing the ends out evenly along the edges of the cardboard and forming a triangle. Pull the strings together in the center and tie them. Cut another foot of string and tie one end to the top of the three connected strings.Tie a small loop in the opposite end of the free string to hang the mobile from a hook. Alternately, you can simply tape the top of this string to the ceiling.

Astronomy